At the moment, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is huddling with other top Republicans on the Hill trying to figure out how exactly to respond to word that Arlen Specter is switching parties. It goes without saying that it’s a devastating blow to a party struggling to stay politically afloat. Several Senate Republican aides contacted by Newsweek declined to talk about what the party knew about Specter’s discussions with Democrats, preferring to leave it up to McConnell, who will go before reporters later this afternoon.

Sen. John Cornyn, who heads up the Senate GOP’s campaign committee, just issued a statement that sums up what most Republicans are saying: That Specter sold out his principals for politics in what Cornyn’s aides describe as “seemingly insurmountable bid for re-election.” “Sen. Specter’s decision today represents the height of political self-preservation,” Cornyn said. Other Republicans aren’t quite that nice. “Disgusting,” one Senate GOP aide told Newsweek. “What you’ve seen today is someone selling out everything for politics.” It’s worth noting there is no love lost for Specter among many of these Republicans, who have distrusted the moderate Pennsylvania senator for years.

But not every Republican is totally trashing Specter. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has been an occasional swing vote in the Senate himself, issued a statement on Specter's decision that mentioned the political dilemma facing the GOP. "Ideologically, we are a center-right party and I am committed to maintaining that position," Graham says. "However, for us to have national relevance we have to run and win in blue states.  As a party we have to expand our base and diversify our membership while maintaining our fiscally conservative, limited government approach." That won't be easy.